Keeping your system up-to-date

This page documents how you can keep your system up-to-date.

After following our guide, your system will consist of three core elements that can be updated. Atmosphere, Hekate and your system firmware.

Updating Atmosphere

When updating Atmosphère, always make sure to read the release notes. They may list important changes and modifications to your system.

WARNING

Updating from below Atmosphère 1.0.0

If you update from below Atmosphère 1.0.0, there are additional steps to follow. You will have to delete the sept folder from your microSD, delete fusee-secondary.bin from your atmosphere folder and update your Hekate config file: hekate_ipl.ini in the bootloader folder.

When a new version of Atmosphère releases, you can update Atmosphère by following these steps:

1. Enter RCM and inject the Hekate payload.
   • If you use a modchipped Switch, you can simply just turn your Switch on with the Hekate payload renamed to payload.bin on the root of your microSD card.
2. Navigate to Tools > USB Tools > SD Card and plug your Switch into your PC via USB.
3. Download the latest release of Atmosphere (Download the atmosphere-(version)-master-(version)+hbl-(version)+hbmenu-(version).zip release of Atmosphere.)
4. Copy the contents of the Atmosphere .zip file to the root of your microSD card.
   • If you are prompted to overwrite files, do so.
5. Eject the UMS device safely from within your computer's operating system.
6. (If your Hekate is not on the latest version) update Hekate via the steps below.

Updating Hekate

When updating Hekate always make sure to read the release notes. They may list important changes and modifications to your system.

When a new version of Hekate releases, you can update by following these steps:

1. Enter RCM and inject the Hekate payload.
   • If you use a modchipped Switch, you can simply just turn your Switch on with the Hekate payload renamed to payload.bin on the root of your microSD card.
2. Navigate to Tools > USB Tools > SD Card and plug your Switch into your PC via USB.
3. Download the latest version of Hekate (Download the hekate_ctcaer_(version).zip release of hekate).
4. Copy the bootloader folder from the Hekate .zip file to the root of your microSD card. If you are asked to overwrite or merge files while copying, say yes to merge/overwrite them.
5. Eject the UMS device safely from within your computer's operating system.
6. Go back to Hekate's main menu and press Reload > Reload to reload Hekate from your microSD card.
7. From here, you're done and you can boot into CFW.

Updating your firmware

Always check before updating your system firmware if the latest version of Atmosphère as well as the latest version of Hekate support the firmware version you are updating towards.

In addition, updating to or past some firmwares update the gamecard firmware. Reference the table below for information about these.

Updating from	Updating towards	Updates gamecard firmware
Below 4.0.0	Below 4.0.0	No
Below 4.0.0	4.0.0 or above	Yes
On or above 4.0.0, but below 9.0.0	At least 4.0.1 but below 9.0.0	No
On or above 4.0.0, but below 9.0.0	9.0.0 or above	Yes
On or above 9.0.0, but below 11.0.0	At least 9.0.1 but below 11.0.0	No
On or above 9.0.0, but below 11.0.0	11.0.0 or above	Yes
On or above 11.0.0 but below 12.0.0	At least 11.0.1 but below 12.0.0	No
On or above 11.0.0 but below 12.0.0	12.0.0 or above	Yes
On or above 12.0.0 but below 14.0.0	At least 12.0.1 but below 13.2.1	No
On or above 12.0.0 but below 14.0.0	14.0.0 or above	Yes
On or above 14.0.0	Latest supported Atmosphère & Hekate revision	No

If at least one of the versions you are updating towards also updates the gamecard firmware, you will not be able to downgrade below that version without making the gamecard slot unusable until you update.

Atmosphere (and Hekate) come bundled with patches that automatically disable the gamecard slot if it is detected that the system has an older gamecard firmware that would be updated. If you boot into RCM on each boot (for example by using AutoRCM), this means that the gamecard slot will not be updated and you can downgrade below that version. If this happens, you will not be able to use the gamecard slot as long as you are on the newer firmware.

Otherwise, you can safely update your system firmware through the system settings.

WARNING

Note about autoRCM

If you have autoRCM enabled and you're updating your system while in stock firmware, updating will disable autoRCM and you will need to enter RCM manually to boot custom firmware again.

To prevent autoRCM from being disabled, boot CFW on sysMMC and update through settings from there, as booting without AutoRCM will burn any preserved fuses.

About emuMMC

sysMMC and emuMMC have separate system firmwares and need to be updated separately.

If you keep your emuMMC offline, you will have to use a gamecard to update your system firmware, synchronize it with another Nintendo Switch or dump an updated firmware from your sysMMC.

Updating emuMMC by dumping an updated firmware from your sysMMC

WARNING

Do you have an eMMC backup yet?

Please do not start this guide without doing a RAW GPP and a BOOT 0/1 eMMC backup!

You can learn how to make one here.

DANGER

Downgrading

This guide is made for updating your emuMMC. It is not for downgrading. Downgrading at all, sysMMC or emuMMC, is not recommended and not worth it. Downgrading is also very dangerous and can lead to serious complications even when performed correctly.

What you need:

• The latest release of TegraExplorer
• The latest release of Atmosphere

Preparing your microSD card

1. Boot into Hekate.
2. Go to Tools > USB Tools > SD Card and connect your Switch to your PC via USB.
3. Download the latest release of TegraExplorer.bin and place it sd:/bootloader/payloads.

Make sure your sysMMC is updated before moving onto the instructions below.

Dumping your sysMMC firmware

1. Make sure your sysMMC is up to date. If your sysMMC is not up-to-date, boot into Stock or sysCFW and update it through the System Settings.
   • sysCFW is recommended since it preserves e-fuses and preserves AutoRCM (if applicable).
2. Inject TegraExplorer.bin using your favourite payload injector (Like you would with Hekate).
   • If you are using a modchipped Switch, you can simply put TegraExplorer.bin in sd:/bootloader/payloads on your microSD card, then turn on your console and load TegraExplorer via Hekate's payloads menu (Payloads > TegraExplorer.bin).
3. Using the joystick and the A buttons, select FirmwareDump.te, then select Dump sysmmc.
   • If navigation doesn't work with your Joycons, navigating using the volume buttons and selecting using the power button also works. (This is also required for Switch Lite console users.)
4. Wait about 1-2 minutes for the script to dump your firmware.
5. When the script finishes, press any button.
6. Select Reboot to bootloader/update.bin.

Updating your emuMMC with Daybreak

1. In Hekate go to Launch -> Atmosphere FSS0 emuMMC.
2. Once booted, hold R while launching a game to boot into the homebrew menu.
3. Find Daybreak in the homebrew menu and launch it.
4. Tap on Install and navigate to sd:/tegraexplorer/Firmware/<latest firmware number>.
5. Tap on Continue and then Preserve settings.
   • If you see the message Warning: exFAT firmware is missing or corrupt, you likely don't have the exFAT drivers installed on your sysMMC. Just press continue if this is the case.
6. If it is available choose Install (FAT32 + exFAT), otherwise Install (FAT32) and then Continue.
7. Wait until Daybreak completes installing the dumped firmware.
8. Once it completes, it will ask if you want to reboot. Tap Reboot.
9. Once rebooted, launch into emuMMC and verify your system works. You can verify your system has been properly updated in Settings -> System.